High Court gets first female chief justice

Malcolm Turnbull wasn't wrong when he described the Susan Kiefel story as one of inspiration.

The next chief justice of the High Court left school at 15, worked as a legal secretary, studied at night to first complete her high school qualifications and then law through the Barristers Admission Board.

Now, at 62, she's the most senior judge in the land and the first woman to lead the nation's highest court.

The prime minister said Justice Kiefel's appointment - effective from January 30 - showed that even paralegals and legal secretaries could make it to the top of the profession.

Susan Kiefel. (AAP) ()

"They can follow in Susan Kiefel's footsteps, study well, get admitted, become the chief justice of Australia," Mr Turnbull said in announcing the appointment in Canberra on Tuesday.

The Kiefel career is marked by groundbreaking achievements: the first woman in Queensland appointed a Queen's Counsel; ditto to the state's Supreme Court; the third woman appointed to the High Court.

Highly regarded by the judiciary and the legal profession, Justice Kiefel was the overwhelming favoured candidate to succeed Robert French.